How Betel Began
Betel began in the San Blas neighborhood of Madrid thirty years ago when a few missionaries from WEC (Worldwide Evangelization for Christ) began to show compassion for the neediest people in society. In the 1980's Elliott Tepper y Lindsay Mckenzie opened up their homes to the growing population of drug addicts in post Franco Spain, offering them a place to become free from their addictions and a new hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The key verse for this event was Psalm 2:8
"Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession."
Reprepresentatives from almos all the Betel centers in the world came to the event and the speakers included the founders, Elliott Tepper, Lindsay Mckenzie, Keith Bergmeier and Kent Martin along with Ernesto Alonso from Amistad Cristiana (Mexico) and Mike Cavanaugh from Elim Bible Institute (USA). The mission of Betel is to care for people at risk of social exclusion, offering them a residential program free of cost.
Betel's Values
- Inspired in traditional Christianity
- We defend the value of life and personal dignity
- We consider the family to be the fundamental institution of society
- We believe in offering hospitality with dedication and passion
- We value transparency, eficiency and good stewardship of our resources
Currently Betel exists in 25 countries and more than 100 cities worldwide, having offered assistance to more than 200,000 people.